The acetylcholinesterase reaction and catecholamine fluorescence in the glomus cells of rat carotid body

Summary The presence of both acetylcholinesterase reaction and glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence of catecholamines in the same glomus cells of rat carotid body was demonstrated using combined histochemical methods. A suggestion is made that the glomus cells have both excitatory and inhibitory effects on the chemosensory nerve via acetylcholine and catecholamines, respectively.Acknowledgments. The present study was supported by grants from the Emil Aaltonen Foundation and the Finnish Cancer Foundation to Timo Waris.